If you buy an air conditioner, check energy efficiency ratios (EER) of models on the market. The higher the EER rating, the more efficient the unit and the less it costs to run.

Be sure your outside air conditioning condenser is shaded from the sun. If it’s not installed in a shady area, create shade with a tree or fence. Avoid using bushes that may block the flow of air around the cooling unit.

By combining proper equipment maintenance and upgrades with appropriate insulation, air sealing, and thermostat settings, you can cut your energy use for heating and cooling, and reduce environmental emissions, from 20% to 50%

Kitchen, Bath and Laundry

Locate your refrigerator in a cool spot with good air circulation and away from heat sources like direct sunlight, your kitchen range and heat vents.

Open and close the refrigerator door quickly and infrequently.

Carefully select a refrigerator/freezer with energy-saving features. Units with the ENERGY STAR® label are among the most efficient. Be aware that manual-defrost freezers use up to 30% less energy than units that defrost automatically.

If you have a manual-defrost freezer, be sure to defrost regularly. You should not allow a build-up of more than 1/4" of ice. Check your owner’s manual for specific instructions.

Avoid putting hot foods in the refrigerator.

Clean your refrigerator’s condenser coils regularly.

Use your refrigerator optimally. A full but not tightly-packed refrigerator is most efficient.

Inspect the seals on your refrigerator, freezer and oven doors to ensure that they fit tightly. Simply place a lighted flashlight inside the appliance. If you see light around the gasket after the door is closed, replace the gasket.

Your Range

When cooking small meals, use only small electric appliances.

When necessary, pre-heat your oven for no more than 10 minutes.

Carefully plan your use of the oven. When possible, avoid using range burners that are less efficient than a closed oven. A complete meal can be cooked in the oven as economically as one food item.

Resist peeking into the oven. Every time you open the door, you lose heat.

Check all range burners. If the flame on your natural gas stove burns with a yellow rather than a clear blue flame, improper combustion is occurring. Something may be clogging the burner outlets or burner air inlets. Turn off the natural gas, remove the burner and clean these areas with a wire pipe cleaner and vacuum cleaner. If this doesn’t improve the color of the flame, call a service person.

Use flat-bottomed pans with covers and match the size of the pots and pans to the size of your burners. Also, minimize the amount of water in pans and use the lowest heat setting needed.

Other Kitchen Appliances

Use the dishwasher only when full. In addition, let clean dishes air dry.

Install a flow restrictor in the kitchen sink faucet to reduce the use of hot water.

In most households, the refrigerator is the single biggest energy consuming kitchen appliance. Replacing a refrigerator bought in 1990 with a new ENERGY STAR® qualified model would save enough energy to light the average household for nearly four months.

Water Heater

Periodically remove sediment that builds up in the bottom of your water heater. Draining water until it appears clear removes sediment and improves your water heater’s efficiency. (Follow manufacturer’s instructions.)

Set the temperature on low (120°) and use warm instead of hot water for washing clothes and dishes. However, a temperature lower than 120° may result in increased detergent use. (Note: Dishwashers without booster heaters may require a water temperature of 140°. (Check manufacturer’s instructions.)

Insulate your electric water heater. If it feels warm to the touch, you may not have enough insulation. You can wrap the sides with an insulation blanket to reduce heat loss. This insulation could reduce energy use by 5% to 8%.

Our customers – if your electric water heater’s capacity is 80 gallons or larger, you may benefit by heating water at night (9:00 p.m. to 7 a.m. Eastern Standard Time) using our optional time-of-use service.

Ensure maximum efficiency of your oil-fired water heater. Have a qualified service person inspect the flame, damper, and stack temperature.

If you’ll be away from home for a period of time, turn off your water heater. For an electric water heater, turn off the circuit breaker or remove the fuse. If you have a natural gas water heater, turn the setting to “pilot.”

In houses with forced-air heating and cooling systems, ducts are used to distribute conditioned air throughout the house. In a typical house, however, about 20 percent of the air that moves through the duct system is lost due to leaks and poorly sealed connections. The result is higher utility bills.

The Attic and Basement

Insulate your attic. Homes heated by natural gas and oil should have at least six inches (R-19) and for homes heated by electricity, you should have at least 12 inches (R-36).

Insulate and weatherstrip your attic door.

Install a vapor barrier in your attic to reduce the flow of moisture from inside your home through the insulation. This reduces condensation that can lower insulation efficiency. When installing vapor barriers, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Vent your attic appropriately. When adding insulation, you may have to add ventilation as well. As a general rule, you need one square foot of free ventilating area for each 150 square feet of attic floor area. Keep attic vents clear of debris such as insulation, tree limbs, bird nests, etc.

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FAQs

Do we offer energy efficiency programs?

Yes. We encourage customers to improve their home’s energy efficiency with these programs. We offer rebates for high-efficiency home heating and water heating upgrades, as well as lighting upgrades for multi-family apartment and condominium owners.

How can I save on energy around my home?

By using energy wisely, you can increase the comfort of your home, help protect the environment and better manage your energy costs. We have 76 low-cost, no-cost energy saving tips for your heating and cooling, kitchen, bath, laundry, attic, basement, water heater, living areas and the exterior of your home.

Is it really beneficial for me to switch to LED or CFL light bulbs?

Switching to light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) is an easy way to use energy safely and wisely. It’s a change that will go a long way in helping you to reduce energy waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and the amount you spend on energy costs.